These Old Stories
Stories can be medicine, and they can be poison. Let me explain.
Those ruminating, self-doubtful stories can run rampant in our mind’s eye. These are the stories that, if left to fester, reinforce outdated beliefs and have us circling the drain of the shame spiral. They hold us back. They make us forget the wonder we are a part of.
One of the beautiful byproducts of women gathering to express themselves creatively is that we share and process stories together. Our nervous systems sync up as we tell our stories. And most remarkably, those voices in our heads, when exposed to daylight, get disarmed. We come to realize how common and actually banal they are, and we let them go.
Our choirs are also storytelling groups. We engage in a collective discovery of lost folklore, poetry, lyrics and women who, in many cases, were nearly erased from history due to the prevalence of folklore that centred commerce and war. Who was tending the home fire when said hero was on his journey? Jennifer guides the group to explore themes and share. One choir member exclaimed gleefully at one practice: “I thought I was just joining a choir. this is really a creative community!”
When we listen to the tale of the wise woman weaving the story of the world, we connect to magic and lore. We find ritual and ceremony vital to a beautiful existence. We sift through metaphor and take pride in the lessons we can learn and tell through this collective art form.
In a time where Governments are banning books and people are more and more isolated, sharing our stories is more important than ever…
and it’s also a riot.
Bring tissues, and prepare to laugh until your tummy hurts.
